Machine for securing buttons to fabrics



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W 1-1. T. ALLAN.

MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS T0 FABRICS. No. 490,619. Patented. Jan 24, 1893.

(No Model.) B T ALLAN 4.She e ts-Sheet 2 MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONQ T0 FABRIGS.

No. 490,619. Patented Jan. 24,1893.

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B T ALLAN MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS T-O FABRICS.

No. 490,619. Patented Jan. 24, 1893.

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MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS T0 FABRICS.

No. 490,619. Patented'Jan. 24,- 1893'.

lq-n bmzooeo v 8 8C x I UNTTED STATES FFICEQ EDWARD T. ALLAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN-TENTHS, BY

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ABRAHAM GODSHAW, OF SAME PLACE, AND THOMAS JAMES, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,619, dated January 24, 1893.

Application filed June 9, 1892. Serial No. 436,070. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. ALLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at C'rncinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Securing Buttons to Fabrics, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for attaching buttons to shoes or other articles.

Heretofore in the manufacture of shoes, after the button holes have been made the flap containing the same is lapped over on the other and the places for the buttons marked so that they will register with the holes, and the buttons then placed at the positions marked. After they have been secured in position the last is put in the shoe and the shoe partly buttoned up.

My machine forming the subject-matter of the present application is designed to carry out a new method of securing buttons to fabrics which consists broadly in securing the buttons through the button hole so that the time occupied in marking the proper places is done away with. Furthermore, it will be seen that after the'buttons have been put on, the shoe is already buttoned up and it only remains to unbutton a few of the top buttons so that the last can be readily inserted. So far as I am aware, I am the first to accomplish the saving of time and labor mentioned by placing the buttons in position through the button hole, leaving the garment already buttoned up, and while I make no claim to said method in the present application,it will form the subject-matter of another application and will be claimed therein broadly.

Heretofore, various machines have been devised for attaching buttons to garments but all are defective, either by reason of their inefficiency in operation, the complicated character of their mechanism, and consequent great expense, or for other causes.

The object of my invention is to make a new machine for accomplishing the desired result which shall be simple and comparaspreader for the button hole, a plunger, means for operating the same and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger to be acted upon thereby. Secondly, in the combination with a curved support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, a plunger, means for operating the same, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger to be acted upon thereby. Thirdly, in the combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, a main shaft, a cam on said shaft for actuating the spreader, a plunger also operated by a cam on said shaft, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger. Fourthly, in the combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, a plunger, means for reciprocating the same, means for moving the plunger forward and back, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger. Fifthly, in the combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, means for moving the same vertically, a plunger and means for moving the same vertically, a suitable hopper, a chute for delivering buttons therefrom to a point beneath the plunger, a main shaft, and connections between the main shaft and the plunger and chute forgiving the same a forward and backward movement in accordance with the distance between the buttons. Sixthly, in the combination of the spreader, and plunger and hopper and chute, with means for giving them the desired movements,

all actuated from the main shaft, a rotating brush or stirrer within the hopper, and connections between the main shaft and stirrer for actuating the latter.

Finally, the invention comprises various I00 details of construction all as hereinafter fully described and referred to in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section. Fig. 3 is a detail end view of the horn or work support. Fig. A is a bottom plan View of the overhanging arm of the machine. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55, Fig. 1. Fig.6 is a cross section on line 6G, Fig. 1. Fig. 7is adetail longitudinal section of the sliding block which forms part of the connecting mechanism between the main shaft and plunger and chute. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view taken from theinterior of the overhanging arm. Fig. 9 is a detail cross section on line 99, Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a plan View partly in section showing the button reservoir. Fig. 11 is a plan view partly in section, showing button reservoir and chute. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of the plunger. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of the brush. Fig. 14 is a detail plan and end view of the die. Fig. 15 shows a modified form of spreader. Fig. 16 isadetail section showing an enlarged view of the plunger, the die block, and a form of button used on my machine. Fig. 17 is a detail of the button.

Like letters of reference indicatelike parts wherever they occur.

The frame-work of the machine A, is comthe base A by a standard A Extending lengthwise through the overhanging arm A, is the main driving shaft B, journaled in suitable bearings in said arm. At one end of the driving shaft is placed a belt wheel 0, which may be thrown into and out of connection with the driving shaft. This belt wheel, or pulley, may be run as a loose or tight pulley, at the will of the operator. A groove 1), is formed in the shaft B, and a groove 0, is formed in the hub C, of the belt wheel. A key D, is fitted in the groove 72, and is directly operated by means of an arm or lever (2, secured to the end of the cylindrical portion of the key. hen the belt wheel 0, is driving the shaft B, the key D, stands in relation to the cylindrical key ways I), 0, so that the key occupies one-half of the space formed by the ways in hub C, of the belt wheel C, and shaft 13, thereby keying the wheel 0, to shaft B. A collar 13', is secured on the shaft B, between the belt wheel 0, and the arm of the machine A, and it has a reduced portion 1). The reduced portion 7), is slotted and through said slot 11 the arm or lever (1, formed on the end of the key D, projects. Pins 6 b project from the face of collar B. The pin acts as a stop and a spring b holds the arm d, normally in contact with it when the belt wheel is driving the machine.

Secured to the standard A of the machine, is a bracket arm E, and in a sleeved portion of said bracket arm is a plunger 6. This plun ger e, is located in the path of the arm (Z, and as the same is rotated if the plunger e, is projected by means of a spring 6 not having been depressed by the operator, by a suitable treadle, (not shown) connected to the plunger by a rod or chain c, the machine will be stopped by the plunger 6, striking the cam face (1, of the arm d, and by the engagement of the stop pin 61 with the plunger e. The key D, will be turned so that the belt wheel will run as a loose pulley. The key D, is cylindrical at either end for a distance equal to or nearly equal to the width of the collars B, B and completely fills the key ways 13 B, in said collars respectively. The semi-cylindrical portion D, extends for a distance equal to the width of the hub G, of the belt wheel 0.

Arranged at intervals upon the shaft 13, are the cams G, H, and I, which control the movements of the various parts of the button securing mechanism. All these cams are situated within the hollow arm A, said arm being open upon one side, and closed by means of a plate a. By removing the plate a, access may be had to all the mechanism, for any desired purpose.

Near the forward end of the shaft B, is rigidly secured the lifting cam G. This cam for the greater portion of its circumference, is concentric with that of shaft B, but one portion is increased in diameter to a sufficient degree to lift the button hole spreader K out of the button hole. posed of the overhanging arm A, secured to t The shoe or other article to be worked upon is placed upon a horn A directly under the arm A, of the machine, and the bottom edge of the button hole spreader K, touches or rests upon said horn A This button hole spreader consists of a rod which slides in bearing, formed in the arm A, and is held down bya leaf or other spring, when it is not raised therefrom by means of the lifting cam G, or by the operator using a lever a Secured to the straight portion 70, of the button spreader K, is an arm which rests upon the cam surface. A pin 70 may be secured to said arm, and to the pin, one end of a lever a may be attached. A rod or chain a, connects the other end of the lever a with a suitable treadle, so that the button-hole spreader K, may be raised independently of the action of the cam G, in order that the work may be inserted, or taken off while the machine remains at rest. The lower portion of the button hole spreader K, is given a rearward and inward bend, as shown in the drawings, so that the blade or spreading portion is brought opposite to and in line with the button setting plunger L. The button setting plunger L, is carried by a sliding block M, which is formed in the present instance, by uniting in any suitable way two blocks m, and m, so that they will form a block slide and which will reciprocate in the slot m in the arm A, when actuated by the feed controlling mechanism. For a portion of its length, near its forward end, the shaft B, is

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provided with a key h. The cam H, which operates the button setting plunger L, reciprocates upon the shaft B, as the feeding op eration take place, its rotation being efi'ected by the key h. The cam H, is held between upwardly extending arms M, M of the block M, and by said arms its forward and backward movements are controlled.

The arm or standard M, is cut away as shown in Fig. 2, and through this opening the upper end of the button setting plunger L, extends, said end is provided with an antifriction roller L or stud, which engages the face groove cam H, causing the plunger L, to rise and fall at desired intervals. The lower end of the button setting plunger is concave, and adapted to fit over the head of the button, which is fed to the plunger L, from a hopper 0, through a chute 0.

Secured to the button plunger L, is an angular plate Z, which receives-and holds the button until it is released by subsequent operations. The flat horizontal part of plate Z, is slotted as shown in Fig. 3, at Z, and upon the tongues thus formed the button rests, its shank being confined in the slot Z. wardly extending portion Z is provided with a slot Z and the plate Z, is secured to the plunger L, by screws. A spring L is attached at one end to the plate Z, and to block M, at the other. The spring L, holds the plate Z, normally in the proper position to receive a but ton from the chute at the completion of the operation of attaching a buttonwhen plunger is at highest point. The spring L, permits of the downward movement of the plunger, the spring yielding as the button setting plunger descends, to place the button shank through the button hole flap and the under flap to which it is to be secured.

The buttons are fed from a hopper P, and enter the button receptacle 0. The button receptacle 0, is supported by a bracket arm m secured or formed integral with the sliding block M. A chute 0, directs thepbuttons to the plate Z, beneath the button setting plunger L, said chute having an inclination upwardly and rearwardly of about forty-five degrees. The upper part of the bracket arm m is widened out so that it forms the bottom of the button receptacle. The body portion 0, of the button receptacle is secured to the base portion by means of screws passing through lugs, and a shaft or rod 0", runs centrally through the body portion 0, and the base 0 and upon it is secured a brush R. The bottom of the button receptacle is provided with grooves 0, one or more of which are formed in such a manner that as the buttons are agitated by the brush R, they will, their shanks having fallen into the grooves o, be directed to the openings 0 in the side of the casing. The grooves 0, open into a I groove 0 running lengthwise of the chute o, and said groove directs the shank of the buttons, which are fed by gravity, aided by agitation of the buttons in the button recepta- The upcle. The means for agitating the brush R, will be hereinafter described. The lower end of the chute 0, is reduced to substantially a wedge shape, and as shown in Fig. 3, is curved on the edge next to the button setting plunger in such a way as to present no hinderance to its descent. Alight leaf, or other suitable spring, 0 is secured to the end of said chute on the side toward the machine standard A This spring 0 holds the button in place so that it will be properly caught by the button setting plunger L, as it descends. As soon as the button has been gripped between the plunger L, and the plate Z, it passes below the said spring, so as to clear it. A thin sheet metal cover 0 is secured by screws to the chute 0, and has a lip 0 formed at its lower end.

The end of the horn A upon which the shoe upper is placed, is channeled so as to receive a die block S, which is formed with beveled sides, fitting the channel. The proper position of the block being determined, the block issecured by means of the screws 3. For convenience in construction, I form the die block in two pieces. The bed block S, and the former, or tongue part S. The former or tongue S, is tapered in suchamanner that the split shank of the button will, after the ends have been forced together by the curved walls 8 of the bed block S, securely fasten the button to the shoe upper or other'article. A space 5 is left between the bed die and tongue, of a width equal to the thickness of theshank wire.

In Fig. 14, I show amodified form of diein which the part S, or former around which the button shank is bent, is not tapered but is semi-cylindri cal. The space S is increased at the rear end, to a greater depth, by a V- shaped groove, which receives the ends of the button shank, and closes them together as the plunger descends.

The feed mechanism is actuated by means of cam I, which is located about midway of the machine, and has a groove cut in its circumferential face. The carriage M, is connected to a sliding block i,byalink or bar I. A stud 'i, which engages the cam groove, is formed upon said block 1', and the stud is provided with an anti-friction rollert' The link or bar I, which connects blocks Z, and M, imparts the reciprocating motion to the latter which it receives from the cam I. The block 6, slides in a slot 2', formed in the arm A, of the machine. To the underside of the arm A, is'secured a pivoted arm T, upon a bolt 25. The arm T, is on a curve struck from the center of the plunger L. Said arm has a groove t, into which a lip or projection 2' from the underside of block 2', projectsand as said block reciprocates, the arm T, rocks on its fulcrum by the projection d engaging the groove 25. On the underside of the arm T, a T-shaped groove is formed, and a bolt 29, having preferably a flat head, is movable therein. The bar or link I, is perforated, to receive a sleeve U. Said sleeve U, has a flange u, and between said flange and the arm T, the end of the bar orlinkl,is secured. The smooth surface permits the bar or link I, to move freely. The internal bore of the sleeve U, is threaded, to receive the bolt i and a thumbnut, or other suitable jam-nut a, may be used to lock said bar in desired position.

It is obvious, that the length of the movement of block M, may be regulated by setting the bolt i toward or away from the pivotal point of the arm T, and as the leverage of said arm is thus determined. The end of bar I, attached to sliding block M, moves freely upon the bolt V, as a center. This end of the bar or link I, is perforated as at its other end, and a sleeve '1), having a flange r, allows of a free movement. The sleeve and by it the bar or link I, is secured to the sliding block M. A sliding block Y, having a stud engaging the groove in cam I, causes the brush R, to oscillate by means of the connecting rod y, attached to said block Y, and to the arm 7*, of the brush shaft thus keeping the buttons in constant agitation, while the machine is operating.

In Fig. 15, I illustrate a modified form of button hole spreader, which is designed to antomatically adjust the work, in case of a slight variation in the distancebetween button holes. This is accomplished by attaching a pivoted deg K, to the bottom of the spreader K,which will, as the work is fed forward, drop into the next succeeding button hole, and as the feed returns the block M, with the button plunger L, will be struck by a pin, (shown in dotted lines) upon the plate Z, before the plunger L, and plate Z, rise to receive the next button. As the feed has been predetermined, the plunger L, and spreader K, will sustain fixed relations, when the plunger L, has been returned to its initial position, hence, it the pin striking the dog will place the same in a vertical position ready'to receive the shank of the next button, thus compensating for the variations in length of distance between button holes.

The operation is briefly as follows :The operator having raised the button hole spreader, an upper of a shoe is placed upon the horn of machinethe flaps being placed together in the proper relation. The spreader is then lowered and opens the button hole ready to receive the straight, open prongs of the button, which is held by the plate attached to the button setting plunger, on its underside, and on the side next the standard of the machine by the leaf or other spring. The key having been thrown into position so as to couple the ger is regulated as hereinbefore described and during one complete revolution of the shaft the button setting plunger has carried down a button, set it, fed the shoe forward, bringing the next suoceedin g but-ton hole under the button hole spreader and just before the button setting plunger starts to return to its initial position, the button hole spreader has entered the next button hole presented, thus being in position ready to receive the nextbutton which, until the return of the button setting plunger, has been retained in the button chute by means of the lip upon the top side of chute, and the body of the plunger. The plate supporting the under side of the button being cut away on the side toward the standard of the machine, permits the same to be readily disengaged. from the button, which has just been set. It will be seen that when the operation is completed the upper is bottom up and ready for lasting. This operation is repeated until all the buttons have been placed,when the operatorlifts his foot from the treadle controlling plunger 6, when by contact with the arm 02, the key will be rocked so as to cause the cutaway portion to lie flush with the periphery of the shaft B.

The method mentioned by me, as will be readily seen from the description and an inspection of the drawings, particularly Fig. 3, is carried out by arranging the shoe upon the horn or support with the flaps placed together, then causing the spreading of the button hole, the delivery of a button thereto and then causing the plunger to descend to drive the shank of the button through the button hole and down through the under shank, and fastening said shank to the under flap.

In the carrying out of my invention, it will of course, be understood that one shoe will he slipped over the horn from the sole end and the other from the ankle end of the shoe, the curved horn accommodating itself to both Ways of feeding.

It will of course, be understood that various minor modifications and changes may be made in the construction of the machine and its various parts without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore state that I do not consider the invention as limited in any way to the details shown and described, though so far as I now know, these various details of construction are important and form the subject matter of certain claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: bent wheel and main driving shaft, the shaft 1. In a machine for securing buttons to fabrics, a suitable support for the material, a button hole spreader, a plunger, mechanism for reciprocating said plunger, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger; substantially as described.

2. In a machine for securingbnttons to fabrics, a support for the fabric curved to conform to the line of buttons, a button hole spreader, a plunger, mechanism for reciprocating the same, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger to be acted upon thereby; substantially as described.

3. In a machine for securing buttons to fabrics, a suitable support for the material, a spreader for the button hole, a main shaft, a plunger, mechanism for delivering a button beneath the plunger, and connections between the spreader and plunger and the main shaft whereby the former are operated; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, a main shaft, a cam on said shaft for actuating the spreader, a plunger also operated by a cam on said shaft, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, a plunger, means for vertically reciprocating the same, means for moving the plunger forward and back, and means for delivering a button beneath the plunger; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, means for moving the same vertically, a plunger and means for moving the same vertically, a suitable hopper, a chute adapted to deliver buttons from the hopper to a point beneath the plunger, a main shaft, and connections between the main shaft and the plunger and chute for giving the same a forward and backward movement in accordance with the distance between the buttons; substantially as described.

7. The combination with the spreader for the button hole, of the plunger, the hopper and chute and means for giving them the desired movements, all actuated from the main shaft,

a rotating brush or stirrer within the hopper, and connections between the main shaft and stirrer for actuating the latter; substantially as described.

8. In combination with aplunger, and means for operating the same, a horn or support for the fabric having removable dies, and a spreader for the button holes; substantially as described.

9. In combination with the plunger mechanism and means for operating it, a button hole spreader, a horn or support for the fabric provided with a removable die, said die having a tapering finger or tongue around which the shank of the button passes; substantially as described.

10. In combination with the plunger mechanism and means for operating it, a button hole spreader, a horn or support for the fabric provided with a die having a curved groove therein and a tapering tongue or finger in said groove around which the shank of the button passes; substantially as described.

11. In combinationwith the support for the fabric, a main shaft, a spreader, a cam on said shaft for raising the spreader, a spring for keeping it normally down, a plunger, a second cam on said shaft for actuating the plunger, and means'for sliding said cam and plunger backward and forward; substantially as described.

12. The combination with a support for the fabric, of a spreader for the button hole, means the main shaft and the plunger for moving the sam e forward and backward; substantially as described.

14. The combination with the main shaft, of a spreader, a cam on said shaft for actuating the spreader, a plunger, a cam on said shaft for actuating the plunger, a wheel on said shaft provided with a cam groove, a slide act-- uated by said cam groove, and connections between said slide and the plunger for giving the same a forward and backward movement; substantially as described. 7

15. The combination with the main shaft, of a-spreader, a cam on the shaft for actuating the spreader, a wheel on said shaft having a cam groove, a slide operated by said cam groove, a second slide, a plunger carried thereby, a cam sliding on said shaft operated by said second slide and engaging with the plunger to raise and lower the same, and connections between the first and second slides; substantially as described.

16. The combination with the main shaft, of a wheel thereon having a cam groove, a slide operated by said cam groove, a second slide, a plunger carried thereby, a cam sliding on said shaft and operated by said second slide and engaging With the plunger to raise and lower the same, a button chute supported by said second slide, means for delivering a button to said chute, and operating connections between the first and second slides; substantially as described.

17. The combination with the main shaft, of a wheel thereon having a cam groove, a slide operated by said cam groove, a second slide, a plunger carried thereby, a cam sliding on said shaft and operated by said second slide and engaging with the plunger to raise and lower the same, a hopper and button chute supported by said second slide, means for feeding a button down said chute, and connections between the first and second slides; sub stantially as described.

18. The combination with the main shaft, of a Wheel thereon having a cam groove, a slide operated by said cam groove, a second slide, a plunger carried thereby, a cam sliding on said shaft and operated by said second slideand IIO engaging with the plunger to raise and lower the same, connections between the slides, a hopper and button chute, means for delivering buttons to the action of the plunger, and a rotating brush or stirrer within the hopper and connections between the main shaft and the same for actuating it; substantially as described.

19. In combination with the main shaft, spreader and plunger, and means for operating the same, a suitable hopper having a plurality of grooves in its bottom, a chute into which said grooves pass, a rotating brush or stirrer within said hopper, and connections between the main shaft and brush for rotating the latter; substantially as described.

20. The combination with the main shaft, of a wheel thereon having a cam groove, a slide operated by said cam groove, a second slide,

connections between the slides, a plunger carried by the second slide, a cam sliding on the shaft operated by said second slide and engaging with the plunger to raise and lower the same, a hopper and button chute supported by said second slide, a rotating brush or stirrer within the hopper to feed the buttons to the chute, and a third slide actuated by the cam groove on the main shaft, and connections between said slide and the brush whereby the latter is rotated; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD T. ALLAN.

W'itnesses:

THos. JAMES, SCOTT BONHAM. 

